P Preparation for Calculus

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P.3 Functions and Their Graphs

Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

 Objectives
■ Use function notation to represent and evaluate
a function.

■ Find the domain and range of a function.

■ Sketch the graph of a function.

■ Identify different types of transformations of

functions.

■ Classify functions and recognize combinations of

functions.
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Functions and Function Notation

4
Functions and Function Notation
A relation between two sets X and Y is a set of ordered
pairs, each of the form (x, y), where x is a member of
X and y is a member of Y.

A function from X to Y is a relation between X and Y that

has the property that any two ordered pairs with the same
x-value also have the same y-value.

The variable x is the independent variable, and the

variable y is the dependent variable.

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Functions and Function Notation

Figure P.22 6
Functions and Function Notation
Functions can be specified in a variety of ways. However,
we will concentrate primarily on functions that are given by
equations involving the dependent and independent
variables. For instance, the equation

defines y, the dependent variable, as a function of x,

the independent variable.

7
Functions and Function Notation
To evaluate this function (that is, to find the y-value that
corresponds to a given x-value), it is convenient to isolate
on the left side of the equation.

Using f as the name of the function, you can write this

equation as

The original equation, x2 + 2y = 1, implicitly defines y as a

function of x. When you solve the equation for y, you are
writing the equation in explicit form.
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Example 1 – Evaluating a Function
For the function f defined by f (x) = x2 + 7, evaluate each
expression.

Solution:

9
Example 1(c) – Solution cont’d

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The Domain and Range of a
Function

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The Domain and Range of a Function
The domain of a function can be described explicitly, or it
may be described implicitly by an equation used to define
the function.
The implied domain is the set of all real numbers for which
the equation is defined, whereas an explicitly defined
domain is one that is given along with the function.
For example, the function given by

has an explicitly defined domain given by {x: 4 ≤ x ≤ 5}.

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The Domain and Range of a Function
On the other hand, the function given by

has an implied domain that is the set {x: x ≠ ±2}.

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Example 2(a) – Finding the Domain and Range of a Function

The domain of the function

is the set of all x-values for

which x – 1 ≥ 0, which is the
interval [1, ).

To find the range, observe that

Figure P.23(a)
is never negative.

So, the range is the interval [0, ), as indicated

in Figure P.23(a).
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Example 2(b) – Finding the Domain and Range of a Function

The domain of the tangent

function, as shown in
Figure P.23(b),

is the set of all x-values

such that

Figure P.23(b)

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The Domain and Range of a Function
A function from X to Y is one-to-one if to each y-value
in the range there corresponds exactly one x-value in the
domain.

A function from X to Y is onto if its range consists of

all of Y.

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The Graph of a Function

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The Graph of a Function
The graph of the function y = f (x) consists of all points
(x, f (x)), where x is in the domain of f. In Figure P.25, note
that

x = the directed distance from

the y-axis

f (x) = the directed distance from

the x -axis.

Figure P.25

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The Graph of a Function
A vertical line can intersect the graph of a function of x at
most once.

This observation provides a convenient visual test, called

the Vertical Line Test, for functions of x.

That is, a graph in the coordinate plane is the graph of a

function of x if and only if no vertical line intersects the
graph at more than one point.

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The Graph of a Function
For example, in Figure P.26(a), you can see that the graph
does not define y as a function of x because a vertical line
intersects the graph twice, whereas in Figures P.26(b) and (c),
the graphs do define y as a function of x.

Figure P.26
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The Graph of a Function
Figure P.27 shows the graphs of eight basic functions.

Figure P.27 21
Transformations of Functions

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Transformations of Functions
Some families of graphs have the same basic shape.
For example, compare the graph of y = x2 with the graphs
of the four other quadratic functions shown in Figure P.28.

Figure P.28

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Transformations of Functions
Each of the graphs in Figure P.28 is a transformation of
the graph of y = x2.

The three basic types of transformations illustrated by

these graphs are vertical shifts, horizontal shifts, and
reflections.

Function notation lends itself well to describing

transformations of graphs in the plane.

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Transformations of Functions
For instance, if f (x) = x2 is considered to be the original
function in Figure P.28, the transformations shown can be
represented by the following equations.

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Transformations of Functions

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Classifications and Combinations
of Functions

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Classifications and Combinations of Functions

By the end of the eighteenth century, mathematicians and

scientists had concluded that many real-world phenomena
could be represented by mathematical models taken from a
collection of functions called elementary functions.

Elementary functions fall into three categories.

1. Algebraic functions (polynomial, radical, rational)

2. Trigonometric functions (sine, cosine, tangent, and so on)
3. Exponential and logarithmic functions

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Classifications and Combinations of Functions

The most common type of algebraic function is a

polynomial function

where n is a nonnegative integer.

The numbers ai are coefficients, with an the leading

coefficient and a0 the constant term of the polynomial
function.

If an ≠ 0, then n is the degree of the polynomial function.

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Classifications and Combinations of Functions

The zero polynomial f (x) = 0 is not assigned a degree.

It is common practice to use subscript notation for
coefficients of general polynomial functions, but for
polynomial functions of low degree, the following simpler
forms are often used. (Note that a ≠ 0.)

Although the graph of a nonconstant polynomial function

can have several turns, eventually the graph will rise or fall
without bound as x moves to the right or left. 30
Classifications and Combinations of Functions
Whether the graph of

eventually rises or falls can be determined by the function’s

degree (odd or even) and by the leading coefficient an, as
indicated in Figure P.29.

Figure P.29 31
Classifications and Combinations of Functions

Note that the dashed portions of the graphs indicate that

the Leading Coefficient Test determines only the right
and left behavior of the graph.

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Classifications and Combinations of Functions

Just as a rational number can be written as the quotient

of two integers, a rational function can be written as the
quotient of two polynomials. Specifically, a function f is
rational if it has the form

where p(x) and q(x) are polynomials.

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Classifications and Combinations of Functions

Polynomial functions and rational functions are examples of

algebraic functions.

An algebraic function of x is one that can be expressed as

a finite number of sums, differences, multiples, quotients,
and radicals involving xn.

For example, is algebraic. Functions that are

not algebraic are transcendental.

For instance, the trigonometric functions are transcendental.

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Classifications and Combinations of Functions

Two functions can be combined in various ways to create

new functions. For example, given

you can form the functions shown

You can combine two functions in yet another way, called

composition. The resulting function is called a
composite function. 35
Classifications and Combinations of Functions

Figure P.30

The composite of f with g may not be equal to the

composite of g with f. 36
Example 4 – Finding Composite Functions
Given f (x) = 2x – 3 and g(x) = cos x, find each composite
function
a. f ◦ g b. g ◦ f

Solution:

37
Example 4 – Solution cont’d

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Classifications and Combinations of Functions

An x-intercept of a graph is defined to be a point (a, 0) at

which the graph crosses the x-axis. If the graph represents
a function f, the number a is a zero of f.

In other words, the zeros of a function f are the solutions of

the equation f(x) = 0.

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Classifications and Combinations of Functions

In the terminology of functions, a function is even if its

graph is symmetric with respect to the y-axis, and is odd if
its graph is symmetric with respect to the origin.

The symmetry tests yield the following test for even and
odd functions.

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Example 5 – Even and Odd Functions and Zeros of Functions

Determine whether each function is even, odd, or neither.

Then find the zeros of the function.
a. f(x) = x3 – x
b. g(x) = 1 + cos x

Solution:
a. This function is odd because

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Example 5(a) – Solution cont’d

The zeros of f are found as shown.

See Figure P.31(a)

Figure P.31(a) 42
Example 5(b) – Solution cont’d

This function is even because

The zeros of g are found as shown

See Figure P.31(b)

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Figure P.31(b)